Eleanor Finch
Francis Scott Key, born on August 1, 1779, in western Maryland, is renowned as the author of The Star-Spangled Banner, the national anthem of the United States. Despite his notable contributions to American culture, one may question whether Key played a role in the signing of the US Constitution. This inquiry delves into the intersection of Key's life and the foundational document of the nation he would come to inspire.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1 August 1779 |
| Place of Birth | Frederick County, Maryland, U.S. |
| Occupation | Lawyer, Author, and Poet |
| Notable Works | "The Star-Spangled Banner" (U.S. National Anthem), "Defence of Fort M'Henry" |
| Death | 11 January 1843, Baltimore |
| Education | St. John's College, Annapolis, Maryland |
| Personal Life | Religious, opposed to war, slaveholder but treated slaves humanely and freed some |
| Historical Significance | Author of the U.S. National Anthem |
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What You'll Learn
Francis Scott Key's life and career
Francis Scott Key was an American lawyer, author, and poet from Frederick, Maryland. He was born on August 1, 1779, and died on January 11, 1843, in Baltimore. Key was born into an affluent family of wealthy plantation owners on an estate called Terra Rubra in western Maryland. At age 10, he entered St. John's College in Annapolis, Maryland, from which he graduated in 1796. He was an extremely pious young man and considered joining the Episcopal priesthood. However, he opted for a secular life and decided to pursue a career in law.
Key read law with Judge Jeremiah Townley Chase and passed the bar in 1801. He established a thriving private law practice based in his Georgetown home, which he ran from 1805 until his death. During his first decade of practice, Key appeared numerous times before the United States Supreme Court. He also served as the United States District Attorney for Washington from 1833 to 1841. In addition to his legal career, Key was a writer and poet, often with heavily religious themes. He wrote the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry," which was set to a popular British tune and became the American national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner."
Key observed the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814 during the War of 1812. Inspired by the sight of the American flag still flying over the fort at dawn, he penned the words that would become "The Star-Spangled Banner." The song with his lyrics gained popularity as an unofficial anthem and was eventually adopted as the official national anthem over a century later by Act of Congress in 1931, signed by President Herbert Hoover. Key's works, including religious poems such as "Before the Lord We Bow" and "Lord, with Glowing Heart I'd Praise Thee," were published 14 years after his death.
Key was also involved in colonization efforts and helped found the American Colonization Society (ACS) in 1816. The ACS worked to send free African Americans to a colony on Africa's west coast, which later became the country of Liberia. While Key was an opponent of slave trafficking and treated his own slaves humanely, the ACS was criticized by abolitionists and free blacks as an attempt to remove African Americans from the United States. Key was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970, and several monuments, schools, and other places have been named in his honor.
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The Star-Spangled Banner
No, Francis Scott Key did not sign the US Constitution. However, he did write the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry", which later became the lyrics to "The Star-Spangled Banner", the national anthem of the United States.
Francis Scott Key was a 35-year-old lawyer from Maryland and Washington, D.C. when he wrote the poem on September 14, 1814. He had been detained by the British on a ship in the Chesapeake Bay due to his involvement in an incident where a physician, William Beanes, confronted British soldiers who tried to plunder his home. On the evening of August 24, 1814, British troops set fire to the Capitol, the Treasury, the President's House, and the structures housing the War and State departments. The British then turned their attention to Baltimore, and Key found himself within sight of Fort McHenry, which was being bombarded by the British Royal Navy.
Upon seeing the American flag still flying over the fort at dawn, Key was inspired to write his famous poem. It was published within a week with the suggested tune of the popular song "To Anacreon in Heaven", and it quickly gained popularity as an unofficial anthem. The song with Key's lyrics became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner".
More than a century later, in 1931, "The Star-Spangled Banner" was officially adopted as the American national anthem by an Act of Congress, signed by President Herbert Hoover. The poem and its transformation into the national anthem have secured Key's legacy, with monuments, bridges, ships, and other honours bearing his name.
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The War of 1812
No, Francis Scott Key did not sign the US Constitution. He was, however, an American lawyer, author, and poet, best known for writing the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry", which became the US national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".
Now, onto the War of 1812.
The war was a result of multiple factors, including trade restrictions imposed by Britain to impede American trade with France, the impressment of seamen on US vessels into the Royal Navy, and British military support for Native Americans resisting American expansion into the Northwest Territory. The US also desired to uphold its national honour in the face of perceived British insults, such as the Chesapeake affair.
The US Navy, despite being well-trained and professional, faced funding issues and lacked the necessary ships to directly challenge the Royal Navy. Instead, they targeted Canada, hoping to use the conquest of British territory to negotiate on maritime issues. The British, meanwhile, had been fighting Napoleon for nearly two decades and were not eager for another conflict. However, they were not fond of American commercial support for the French.
During the war, the US Navy pursued a strategy of commerce raiding, capturing or sinking British merchant ships. The USS Constitution, nicknamed "Old Ironsides", successfully outran a large British squadron and defeated four Royal Navy ships in combat. Despite these victories, British naval power ultimately held, and they used their ships to reinforce and supply their troops in Canada, as well as blockade and raid the American coast.
On land, British troops burned several important government buildings in Washington, including the Capitol, the Treasury, and the President's House. However, the burning of Washington did not lead to disaster for the Americans. Instead, it was followed by the composition of "The Star-Spangled Banner" by Francis Scott Key, who witnessed the British bombardment of Fort McHenry in 1814. Inspired by the sight of the American flag still flying over the fort, he wrote the poem that would become the US national anthem.
The Treaty of Ghent, signed on 24 December 1814, provided for a return to the status quo before the war, with no significant territorial exchanges. Both sides could claim victories, as the US had fought the "Conqueror of Napoleon" to a draw, while the British retained Canada and their maritime rights. The conflict had important consequences for the future of North America, as the withdrawal of British troops from the Northwest Territory opened the door for unbounded US expansionism in the region.
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The British attack on Baltimore
No, Francis Scott Key did not sign the US Constitution. He was, however, an American lawyer, author, and poet, best known for writing a poem that became the US national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner." Now, here is a detailed account of the British attack on Baltimore, which inspired Key to write the famous poem.
The Battle of Baltimore took place between British and American forces from September 12 to 15, 1814, during the War of 1812. Baltimore, a busy port city in Maryland, was a significant target for the British due to its role in housing many privateers who raided British shipping. The British planned a combined operation, with a land attack at North Point led by Ross, and a siege on Fort McHenry, the main defensive installation in Baltimore Harbor, led by Vice-Admiral Sir Alexander Cochrane.
Baltimore's citizens had been working on the city's defenses for over a year, and Fort McHenry, commanded by Major George Armistead, was the city's primary defense. The British pursued a land-sea pincer maneuver, attacking from land while bombarding the fort from the harbor. On September 12, about 4,300-5,000 British troops landed at North Point, encountering nearly 4,000 Maryland militia led by Brigadier General John Stricker. The British forces, comprised of veterans from the Battle of Waterloo, managed to outflank the Americans, forcing them to retreat. This delay gave the defenders at Baltimore time to prepare, and when the British reached the city, they faced over 10,000 American troops and 100 cannons, a much stronger defense than they had anticipated.
The British then began a 25-hour bombardment of Fort McHenry, but they were unable to breach the defenses due to the strong artillery positioned within the fort and along the Patapsco River. The American defenders successfully resisted the bombardment, proving their strength against a major world power. On September 14, the British decided to abandon the attack and sailed off to regroup for their planned assault on New Orleans.
Francis Scott Key, an American lawyer, was detained on a British ship during the attack as he was negotiating the release of a prisoner. From the ship, he witnessed the bombardment of Fort McHenry and was inspired by the American flag still flying over the fort at dawn on September 14, a sign of their victory. This inspired him to write the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry," which was later set to the tune of "To Anacreon in Heaven" and became known as "The Star-Spangled Banner," the national anthem of the United States.
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The signing of the US Constitution
Among the signatories were individuals who had played pivotal roles in the nation's independence and the development of its political system. George Washington, the first President of the United States, brought his leadership and military experience to the creation of the Constitution. Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, contributed his visionary ideas about liberty and self-governance. Benjamin Franklin, a renowned polymath and founding father, offered his wisdom and expertise to the process. Alexander Hamilton, a key figure in the Constitutional Convention, left an indelible mark on the structure and content of the document.
The Constitution underwent a ratification process, during which it was approved by state legislatures, solidifying its legitimacy and authority. Starting with Delaware's ratification on December 7, 1787, the momentum for ratification gained pace. New Hampshire's approval on June 21, 1788, marked a significant turning point, as it fulfilled the requirement for backing from nine states, thereby ratifying the Constitution and transforming it into the supreme law of the land. Rhode Island, the last state to ratify, completed the process on May 29, 1790.
While Francis Scott Key, the renowned author of "The Star-Spangled Banner," lived during this era, he was not directly involved in the signing of the US Constitution. Key, born in 1779, was a lawyer and amateur poet. He gained prominence for his patriotic poem, which was inspired by the British bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812. "The Star-Spangled Banner" resonated with Americans and eventually became the national anthem over a century later, in 1931, under President Herbert Hoover.
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Frequently asked questions
Francis Scott Key was an American lawyer, author, poet, and songwriter from Frederick, Maryland. He is best known for writing the poem "Defence of Fort M'Henry", which later became the American national anthem, "The Star-Spangled Banner".
No, Francis Scott Key did not sign the US Constitution. He was born in 1779, over a century after the Constitution was signed in 1787.
Francis Scott Key is celebrated alongside the US Constitution because his famous poem, "The Star-Spangled Banner", was adopted as the US national anthem by an Act of Congress in 1931.
The US Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, by 39 delegates to the Constitutional Convention, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton.
